Mamelodi Sundowns legend Sello "Page" Mahlangu has shared his expectations following the club's participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Sundowns unfortunately did not advance past their group in the Club World Cup, despite showing resilience against some of the biggest names in world football.
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This Sunday, the Tshwane giants will open their 2025/2026 campaign with an MTN8 Cup quarterfinal match against Richards Bay FC, who finished eighth on the log last season.
"We are looking forward to Sunday’s game because the first match can reveal a lot. We’re expecting a very good performance. We don’t know how well Richards Bay has prepared since participating in the Club World Cup," Mahlangu told KickOff.
"As professionals, we expect them to be well-rested. They have a strong pool of players who should be ready to start the new season.
"After gaining experience in the Club World Cup, we are truly expecting a different Sundowns. The coach has now had a pre-season with the team, so we anticipate a strong start on Sunday.
"We also expect to see the flair we associate with Sundowns. We want to see that flair that was lacking last season. While they were winning, it was primarily because their players were scoring goals. We hope to see Sundowns play like Manchester City, which is the standard we’re used to.
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"We don't want to place too much pressure on the coach, but he must understand that maintaining a particular philosophy is essential. At Sundowns, it’s not just about goals; it’s also about entertainment. That’s what we expect.
"We cannot afford to return to the boring style of last season. To be honest, their play was boring, even though they were winning. This season, we expect flair."
The match will kick off at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium at 15:00.
Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
